Chrome Soyuz: hardcore gear for the hardcore nerd

9 years

Unlike Timbuk2 or Manhattan Portage, San Francisco-based Chrome has managed to stick to their core roots without sacrificing their souls to make diaper bags and yoga mat holders just to make an extra buck. It’s inevitable, though, that after 14 years Chrome would expand their line of bags to include those of us that aren’t as hardcore as the couriers biking around cities like Manhattan.

The Soyuz happens to be it, but it doesn’t sacrifice any technical or functional characteristics just because you can slide your laptop into it. The dual compartment rolltop backpack features a fully waterproof RF welded urethane main chamber, weatherproof urethane coated YKK zippers, an industrial metal cam lock buckles and four weatherproof external pockets to store your gear. It should be noted that contents in the main compartment won’t ever seep into the laptop compartment, so don’t worry about transporting beers and having them explode while en route. Just be sure to zip up the side access laptop sleeve so you don’t send your laptop flinging across the room like I did at CES.